by Rayne, Piper
“We do.” He lets the insult roll off his back and unlocks his own locker across from mine. “What did we do now?”
“Just the fact that the male peacock is the pretty one,” I remark.
Reagan’s eyes shift between the two of us.
“Better add the Mallard Duck to that list, too.” He pulls out one of my glass bottles and dabs his finger to his temples.
He’s behind Reagan so she doesn’t see it, but we share a smile. My stomach flips at the fact he’s enjoying my thank you gift.
“True. Most birds actually. Name one species where the female is more beautiful,” I say.
He shuts his locker door and turns to meet my gaze. “Human beings.”
My throat constricts for a second, but I manage to force some words out. “Not always. Men become distinguished as they grow older and woman are viewed as old maids.”
He chuckles and rocks back on his heels. His uniform a striking difference from seeing him in street clothes. If Reagan thinks he’s hot here, she should see him outside of this place.
“Not always true. Plus, you guys get the whole childbirth thing.”
Reagan rolls her eyes and stands up. “I’ll gladly give that up.”
“I know, it’s a shame you can’t though.” Wyatt jokes, and Reagan laughs with him, pointing her finger.
“I think we’re going to have a lot of fun these next two weeks,” she says.
Wyatt’s eyes shoot to me. “I think so, too.” His vision dips to my chest and back up.
It’s just my body’s response, it means nothing that right now I’d love nothing more than to shove Reagan out of the locker room and pounce on Wyatt.
Hello, two weeks from almost getting married!
As if my best friend can read my mind, she says, “I’ll see you two up there.”
“Wait!” I yell.
Reagan circles back around with wide eyes like I’m a lunatic.
“Reagan this is Wyatt. Wyatt this is Reagan.” I gesture between the two of them.
Reagan comes up beside me and places her hand on my arm. “Sweetie, you were the one gone for two weeks. We’ve already been working together.”
“Oh, yeah. Okay. Never mind then.”
Reagan pats my arm and grins. “Brooklyn gets a little overzealous cause she loves her job so much.”
She disappears and I hear the door shut behind her. The energy in here is stifling, like a summer day right before a big storm when you can feel the charge in the air. All I can think of is Wyatt’s hands running up my skirt. I guess this ridiculous maid’s uniform from nineteen eighty-three would be good for something.
“She’s interesting.” His eyes are trained on me.
“She’s nice and I have a feeling you’ll enjoy her sense of humor.”
I need to get out of this room right now if I want to avoid adding town whore onto my moniker with jilted bride.
“Well, let’s get started. You’re the boss today.” He motions with his head for me to exit first.
Great, he gets a view of my ass in a polyester skirt as long as the ones Grandma Dori’s friends wear to church on Sunday.
I shouldn’t care, but I do.
This must be what being on the rebound feels like.
Fifteen
Wyatt
A man could get used to following directions from Brooklyn Bailey all day.
Mostly because I’ve been within one inch of her lips about fifty times today. I’ve struggled with making the bed exactly how she likes it, so she’s showed me how to perfectly tuck the sheets in every room. I’ve excelled at sheet removal though. We won’t go into the whys of that one.
It’s almost lunch and I desperately want to ask her to join me in the restaurant, but it would be against corporate policy. The employee handbook is pretty clear and that’s without my dad’s lectures about never getting involved with someone who works for us. Though I think he was probably referring to the higher-ups at our corporate level.
“Put these in the bathroom.” Brooklyn hands me an armful of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. We’re in the presidential suite so we have the bubble bath for the tub as well. “Thanks.”
She busies herself with the bed, placing chocolates on the pillows and straightening the blinds. We already have a routine on our first day, which I’m hoping means the next two weeks will be easy.
I walk out of the bathroom while she reaches over the bed, her ass on display and tempting me like the color red to a bull.
“We done here?” I ask.
She positions some bottles on the nightstand. “Now we are.”
She steps back toward the hall and my eyes flicker to the same small glass bottles she gifted me last Friday. There’s a handwritten note that says, ‘Dab some of me on your wrists and sweet dreams.’
“What’s this?” I point to the bottles.
Her face reddens like she just got nailed for something. “Um. Shit. I forgot you’re my boss.” She smiles innocently, and I’m glad our relationship is so easy that she forgot, but I still need answers. “I leave them as little keepsakes in the suites. I’m not getting anything from it. It’s a little bonus, that’s all.” She fiddles with her fingers, shifting her weight from one leg to the other.
“Does Mr. Clayton pay you?”
She shakes her head.
“So then why?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. The suites cost a lot and it’s like a little perk. I’d do it for every room if I could afford it.”
The sudden urge to run over to her and swallow up her goodness overcomes me. How can someone be this sweet and this unwanting of anything in return? I’ve never in my life met someone like her.
“Maybe we should talk to the new owner about incorporating them?” He’s only one phone call away, though I’m sure his answer would be no. Not here, but maybe in some of our properties in big cities.
My mind shifts into business mode. She’s got something here. Last night when I left, I kept thinking of how she’d ever make a business like that successful. I mean, health and beauty are near impossible to gain traction in without large sums of money. But she could begin in hotels and I’m able to make the connections for her.
“No. I don’t want anything to jeopardize my job.” She leaves me standing in the room and heads to the cart.
Following her, I grab her wrist before she can escape.
“It’s incredibly thoughtful of you. It’s just… where I’m from, people don’t do a lot of good deeds unless it will benefit them somehow.”
“Where are you from anyway?” she asks, shutting the door and pushing the cart to the next room, changing the subject.
“New York,” I answer, being honest with her for once.
“And they had you come here?”
Maybe I should’ve lied. What’s another lie in the bucket after all?
“Yeah, just some program they’re initiating.”
“I heard that Whitmore Hotels is going to come in and change everything people love about this resort.”
My eyes scour the old carpeting, the wood railings, the overall outdated vibe.
“They’ll probably revamp everything and make it more fitting of their brand, but this place will still have the location and the staff.”
She stops mid-step. “So, they won’t be firing anyone? People are scared.”
Luckily, she doesn’t stare at me point blank. I have a feeling she’d be able to tell I wasn’t being completely forthcoming.
“That’s not in the immediate plans. No.” My stomach twists in my gut. It’s the truth—technically. It’s not in the immediate plans, but it’s not off the table.
She sighs in relief. “Oh good. People thought you were going to slash the staff.” She walks into the next room. “What did they do in here, have an orgy?”
I’m thankful there’s a huge mess to distract from any more questions on the future of Glacier Point Resort.
I’m not sure why because a lie by omission is stil
l a lie.
Sixteen
Brooklyn
Thankfully the two-week test to my libido to see if I could keep Wyatt tucked in the ‘Do Not Touch’ box has ended with him still in the box. I mentally pat myself on the back for a job well done.
It’s been a month since I was supposed to be married and I’m slowly finding my groove again. My family has decided to give me some space and with Jeff not returning to Lake Starlight it’s made trying to move on a little easier. I have no idea where he is or what he’s doing, and I try not to care. Everyone seems to be slowly forgetting that I was left at the altar, or at least they’re pretending to.
I’ve run out of supplies to make my oils at my apartment, so I have to head to the family home to grab more lilac and plant some more herbs. I’m growing some small batches on my balcony, but it’s just not enough if I want to be prepared for the Farmer’s Market in three weeks.
Parking my car behind Austin’s Jeep, I round the side of the house to my garden. Austin and Holly live here together now. I’m sure they’ll eventually have a family so all of us will have to respect that it’s their space and not our childhood home anymore. Which means, no barging in unannounced.
I grab my digging tools and seeds, bending down to my knees to start planting before I clip off some lavender.
“Hey, I didn’t know you were coming by.” Austin steps out of the backdoor, Myles barreling by him and running right to me.
The big golden retriever licks my face, his tail wagging a mile a minute. He’s not even full grown, but he knocks me over to my back.
“Myles!” Austin yells, snaps his fingers, but the dog doesn’t listen.
“Hey, Myles.” I pet behind his ears, which only spurs his excitement to see me more.
“Myles get off her.” Austin grabs his collar, guiding him off me. “Go to the bathroom.”
Myles listens and runs to the other side of the yard, but I think he’s chasing a squirrel, not obliging Austin by following his orders.
“I see the dog training is working.” I laugh.
Austin sits down next to me on the ground. He’s in shorts and his Lake Starlight High School Baseball t-shirt. It’s faded and has been washed a million times. That’s my older brother—cool, casual, and easy going.
“They say they’re smart dogs, but I think we got the lemon.” He laughs.
Myles runs over, falling down and running his head under Austin’s hand.
“I don’t know. I’d say he’s pretty smart.”
Austin nods and rolls his eyes. “You think he’s got me, you should see him with Holly.”
“Where is she anyway?”
“School board meeting.” He pets Myles, his gaze not meeting mine, so I start digging spots in the ground to plant.
“I’m glad you stopped by. How are things?” he asks.
Focusing on my task, I put the seeds in the hole. “They’re good.”
“If you need anything… money, an ear, whatever, you know I’m here, right?”
I nod, although I don’t look at him for fear I’ll start crying. Austin might be my older brother, but he took on the role of father after our parents died. Some people would be surprised to find out he’s got the father role down pat. Even down to the hugs. One hug and the waterworks will start.
He’s quiet for a minute, watching me work then he inhales a deep breath. “I’m glad you stopped by. I hate to bring this up, but I wanted to talk to you about something…”
“What is it?” I dig another hole, concentrating on my task. When will my life become normal again, where people aren’t afraid to talk to me or upset me?
That’s the one nice thing about Wyatt, he didn’t know the pre-jilted Brooklyn and he doesn’t treat me with kid gloves.
“I’m going to ask Holly to marry me.”
My hands pause mid dig as though I hit a rock. It’s not that I didn’t know this was coming. They’ve been together for like a year and they already live together. It’s the natural next step.
“Here let me.” He rises on his knees to take the trowel.
“It’s fine. I have it.” I keep digging and digging.
“You’re going to strike oil.”
I sit down, abandoning the trowel and the seeds. The tears are building in the corners of my eyes and my nose tickles, my throat closing.
“Oh shit. I shouldn’t have said anything. I’ll wait. We can wait. I’m probably asking too soon anyway.”
I smile, shaking my head, wiping my tears. “No. It’s not that.”
“What is it?” he puts the seeds in the hole, and I don’t stop him this time.
“I’m happy for you guys. I am. I’m not crying because you’re going to marry Holly.”
“She has to say yes still.”
I stare at him long and hard until he looks over his shoulder. “She’s going to say yes. She loves you.”
“I don’t want to make it hard on you.” He digs another hole.
“Austin, I have to move on with my life. I can’t avoid attending weddings from now until eternity. And Holly is a great addition to our family. I see how happy she makes you.”
All my words are true and still, I can’t pinpoint the reason for my tears.
“She does. But I meant what I said. If you want me to wait, I will.”
I wipe more tears from my eyes. “Not at all. Ask her.”
He drops the trowel, resting his forearms on his raised knees. “Thanks, Brookie.”
I nod. “You didn’t need my permission.”
He nods. “I did.”
“You’re the best big brother ever.”
I stand and he follows suit.
He bats his eyelashes and his eyes roll back. “Keep saying it.”
We laugh and I bend over to grab the scissors to clip the lavender.
“Making more potions, huh?” He changes the topic. Thankfully.
“Yeah, I’m thinking about starting a little business. Selling stuff at the Farmer’s Market.”
“That’s awesome. Holly loves the rosemary you gave her for the bath.”
“Oh, I can make her more. In fact, I’ll make her an entire bridal bundle.”
Austin smiles at me and then steps forward and wraps his arms around me. “I have the best sister ever.”
I blink back the tears.
“You were always way too good for that douchebag,” he whispers.
I nod into his chest.
Just when I thought all my tears had dried up.
Seventeen
Wyatt
“Mom, I’m not going to answer your phone calls anymore,” I say, walking into my apartment and straight toward the fridge.
“Sweetie, we’re down to almost three months. You know everyone’s social calendar fills up,” she says through speakerphone since I just finished my run and I’m sweaty and starving.
Wealthy people’s social calendars fill up. I don’t think the average Joe is buying charity dinner tables, art gallery openings, and theater tickets.
“I told you, I’m coming alone.” I open my fridge.
Nothing substantial. I really need to take a cooking class.
The door to my apartment opens up behind me.
“Alone? You need a date, Wyatt. It’s your sister’s wedding!” My mom’s voice carries through the entire apartment.
I look over my shoulder to find Brooklyn’s eyes wide. I stand frozen.
As my mom is carrying on and on about expectations and what she will have to tell her friends, I continue to hold Brooklyn’s gaze until her vision dips to my bare chest.
Damn it. My dick hardens and there will be no hiding a fucking hard-on in these shorts.
“Mom, I gotta go.” I reach for my phone.
“No, you don’t. Listen to me. You are going to live a lonely life as you get older. You think it’s all fun having hot girls traipsing in and out of your condo, but one day you’re going to be sitting in a wheelchair all alone looking back on what you missed out on in life
.”
“Thanks for the life lesson, Mom. I’ll call you back.”
“Wyatt Jacob …”
I hit end right before she gets to my last name. I can’t explain why she’s so hell-bent on me having a date to my sister’s wedding. Then I stop to think for a second. No, she’d tell me for sure if... I shake the horrible thought from my head, instead focusing on the hot woman with desire in her eyes standing in my apartment.
“Do you barge into everyone’s apartment or am I special?” I grab a water to cool my body down.
“Guess what?” She ignores my mom’s call. Best thing to happen to me all day.
“What?”
“I just had this idea. I know it’s crazy, but what if I did specialty packages? Like a bride’s set, a groom’s set, a sleep set, a health set.”
We’ve grown closer working side-by-side the past couple of weeks and I find I like that she welcomes herself into my apartment, sliding into a kitchen chair like she’s done it a million times.
“Those are great ideas. I was thinking about it and you need to figure out a company name, get a logo, website, a social media presence so you can brand yourself. You probably need to look into where you can buy your packaging in bulk to get your margin up. Not to mention you need to look at the tax implications…decide what type of business structure will benefit you the most. You need to start off on the right foot otherwise you’re going to be walking up a steep hill.” She stares at me like I just let go of the string on her helium balloon. “Sorry. I don’t mean to overstep.”
“No,” she says, staring down at the table. “You’re right. I have no idea how to go about all that stuff.”
We sit in silence for a second.
“Do you want something to drink?” I ask.
She straightens her back and a determined glint shines in her eyes. “I have a deal to strike,” she says like she didn’t even hear me.
“A deal?” I settle down in the seat across from her.
“I can’t afford to pay you to help me and I know that if you’re managing the hotel, you have business experience. Judging by everything you just said you know all the stuff I should do. What if…” She pauses.
